3.5 out of 4 stars.

This book leaves you thinking.

I had to read “To Kill a Mockingbird” in high school. It was one of those books that I remember fondly because unlike “Beowulf” I felt like I could relate to the characters. Although I was not born during the height of racism, the way Harper Lee wrote made me feel like I was right there in Maycomb. While reading “To Kill a Mockingbird” I felt passion, anger, sadness, and fondness. Since the writing style was so powerful it made me want to read slowly and pick up on all the little details being thrown in. It is the definition of a classic that you can read each year and still reflect. There was no doubt that it deserved the Pulitzer Prize.

“Go Set a Watchman” was published twenty years AFTER “To Kill a Mockingbird” but Harper Lee actually wrote it before she wrote her famous novel. Her publishers DENIED it when she first brought it to their attention. We now know that she originally set Scout as a 26 year old returning to Maycomb from New York City to keep her ailing father company. What she realizes about her father is heartbreaking.

“Go Set a Watchman” writing was definitely that of Harper Lee’s. Did I leave feeling passion, anger, sadness, and fondness? No. However, her playfulness and ability to create and elaborate characters were present. I love Atticus and Scout Finch so much that I ate up learning more about them. Despite it being good or bad realizations, I still felt like I was willing to go through it with them because they are my friends.

All in all Harper Lee wanted to get people talking and she succeeded. You can not deny that.